DOH!! Many thanks to those who picked up on my fat fingered upload....the story just WOULDN'T be the same without Hilary and her Mom and Dad stepping back into the picture, somehow... :) Not to be missed...at least, I think....I hope you like it!!
The next morning also dawned bright and clear, even though there was a severe storm warning in the forecast. Jennifer woke up early, a bit stiff from the accident the day before. She stretched and did some calisthenics and some of the other exercises that they used during off-world missions to keep themselves limber, then a nice hot shower helped a lot.
She dressed gingerly – some of the scrapes and bruises were still a little raw. Today, dressing consisted of a military issue tank top, then jeans and a pair of hiking boots, with a beige, brown and red plaid shirt over the tank top. She looked at herself in the mirror. Not too bad, I guess, she decided.
Eyeing her hair, she toyed with leaving it down, but as she was going to see her CO, she felt she should at least be partially in uniform. She tucked it up with her usual dexterity. She looked at the clock, then out the window. There was the Volvo slowly making its way down the road. She grabbed her favorite fall jacket and the dress on its hanger and headed down the stairs to the front of the building.
Stepping out into the bright sunshine and shutting the door behind her, she smiled as she saw he was already out of the car. This morning, he waited for her, leaning against the car. He had decided on a black t-shirt, jeans and a pair of workman's boots, and his favorite black leather jacket. Now that combination really works on him, she thought, as she made her way down the walk towards him with a smile.
He looked up as she came down the sidewalk. I wonder if Cinderella looked that good after midnight, he pondered, even appreciating the military hairstyle today. Her injuries were still apparent though, and he frowned with concern again. "You're still limping," he called to her.
"I'm just practicing for Colonel Taylor," she said flippantly. Once again, he opened the door for her. She was beginning to like this gentleman thing; most of the other men she'd known had just accepted her as "one of the guys."
They stopped at the bustling coffee shop, and procured caffeinated beverages for themselves. As they waited in line he teasingly asked her if she was going to have a pretty drink or if she could handle a real coffee. Giving him a look that could wither plants, she ordered a triple espresso.
Back in the car, Jennifer set her chin in that way that she had. Daniel noticed, but said nothing. He'd offered to drive her over, mainly because I wanted to see her again, he admitted to himself, but he didn't have any illusions about gallantly rescuing her from whatever might happen at Colonel Taylor's. They drove in silence, except for the local public radio station playing one of its weekend talk shows.
They pulled up at the stately brick house that was the Taylor residence. Fitting for an officer, Daniel thought ironically. He preferred the coziness of his flat that he rented in the old Victorian.
As they pulled up in front of the house, they saw the Cadillac in the driveway; the passenger side that Jennifer had hit was facing them. The entire front quarter panel was crunched in; it looked almost as if it might be interfering with the tire. Daniel looked over; Jennifer's face had that steely gaze she got when she was determined. He recognized her soldier mode.
As they got closer, they could see the bike, lying on its side on the driveway. The front end of her bike looked as if it had been caught in a giant can-crushing device. Daniel grimaced at the sight; she's lucky to have gotten through that as well as she has, he thought to himself.
They parked and got out of the car, Jennifer carrying the dress. As they walked up the driveway, the front door suddenly opened, and Hilary Taylor stepped out, today in jeans and a sweatshirt with a pair of tennis shoes, but with no less hair or makeup than the day before, Jennifer noticed. At the sight of them, her face bore a look that was equal parts pleasant surprise, shock and wonder.
"Oh, hey, Jen, how are ya?" she greeted her enthusiastically. "What are you doing here?" she said.
"Well, I didn't tell you this yesterday, but I do know your Dad," Jennifer said slowly. "He's my CO," she finished.
Hilary's mouth inadvertently dropped open. "Oh, wow, on top of losing your ride and being banged up for your date, you hit your boss' car, you poor thing," the girl said in an awed tone of voice. She reached out and rubbed Jennifer's arm affectionately. "That sucks so bad."
"Well, I figured I should tell him what happened in person," Jennifer said resignedly.
At that moment, Hilary noticed the dress in Jennifer's hands. "And you brought the dress back," she said wonderingly. Suddenly, with concern and excitement, she asked, "Did it work?"
"Hoo, yeah, it worked," Daniel uttered low, under his breath. He looked up suddenly realizing that it had been audible to the two girls. They looked at each other, Jennifer blushing and Hilary with a superior grin on her face.
"I told you it would," she said, with an air of confidence in her voice.
"Oh, uh, hi, I'm Dr. Daniel Jackson," he said, holding out his hand.
"Hi," she smiled at him, shaking his proffered hand. She looked at Jennifer. "So, this the guy?" she asked conspiratorially.
Jennifer blushed further. "Yeah, this is the guy," she said quietly.
"A doctor, huh? Nice job, girl," Hilary said in an approving tone.
Now it was Daniel's turn to blush. "Actually, I, uh, have my doctorate in Archaeology-" he began weakly.
She cut him off with a wave of her hand and a friendly smile. "That's okay, no need to explain. It's nice to meet you, Dr. Jackson," she said. She smiled knowingly and turned to Jennifer. "You really didn't have to bring it back, y'know," she said warmly.
"Well, it's just that, it's such a nice dress, I just thought I should at least offer," Jennifer said modestly.
"What dress is that, Hilary?" a voice boomed. "I thought I told you to take that thing back where it came from!" Colonel Taylor had exited from the open door of the garage and approached the three, eyes flashing.
"Don't have a cow, Dad, it was in the car so I could take it back, remember? That's why you gave me the car?" she said, exasperatedly. "She needed a dress for her date and I gave it to her."
"Colonel Taylor, sir" Jennifer greeted him, with a salute.
"At ease, Lieutenant Hailey," he said. He eyed her and Dr. Jackson critically. "To what do I owe the pleasure this morning, Lieutenant?"
"Permission to speak frankly, sir," Jennifer said. Proper military protocol right now would help her keep her head.
"Permission granted, Lieutenant," he said warily.
"Sir, I hit your car with my bike, sir. The damage is all my fault. I will make whatever reparations are necessary, sir." As the last word left her lips, she felt an incredible sense of relief. The worst was over, except for figuring out exactly how she would pay for the damage, and what penalties Colonel Taylor might exact on her during their next mission.
Colonel Taylor eyed her suspiciously. "Is that all there is to it, Lieutenant?"
"Yes sir. I was riding my bike on the trail behind the barracks; I was going too fast at the crosswalk and didn't stop as I should have. I only saw the car when it was too late to stop," she said.
Colonel Taylor thought about this for a minute. He turned to look at his daughter. "Hilary, what were you doing up on base yesterday?" he asked evenly.
The girls exchanged a guilty look. They hadn't expected this part.
Colonel Taylor spoke again, his voice smooth and even with barely controlled fury. "Were you up there after that loser Levesque?"
"Please Dad, I am SO over him," Hilary said, with that same sort of exasperation that most teenagers have for their parents.
"Is that what you were doing up there?" his fury beginning to overcome him.
"Dad, I told you, he's way done, give it up already," she said, trying to distract him from his pursuit of the truth.
Colonel Taylor turned to Jennifer. "Lieutenant Hailey, did you see what happened between my daughter and Lieutenant Levesque?" he asked.
Just then the front door opened and a tall, graceful woman with an attractive shoulder length blond haircut stepped out. "What's going on, Gerald?" the woman asked.
"Well, Jane, it seems the lieutenant here is the primary owner of what's left of that bike," Colonel Taylor said, not quite bitterly.
"Well, I'm so glad to see you're in one piece!" the tall woman exclaimed. "When I saw that bike, I was terrified about what sort of damage you must have suffered," she said in a genteel, stately voice with a hint of an accent and obvious concern.
"Seems the lieutenant might also have been privy to a situation between our daughter and Lieutenant Levesque, Jane," the Colonel continued evenly. "Seems Hilary took a little detour on her way to return that dress yesterday," he stated triumphantly.
Jennifer felt her face getting hot. She realized that she had tipped the other girl's hand with the details about where the accident had happened. Instead of getting her off the hook, it seemed she had just pushed the hook in further.
Daniel watched the whole scene unfolding, feeling helpless and wishing he could assist, but knowing that Lieutenant Hailey would never have forgiven him if he had stepped in, and besides, he couldn't think of anything to say.
The graceful woman spoke again. "Oh, Gerald, the girl's been through enough, and Hilary already told you that it's over between them, can't we just let it be?" she asked, with an exasperated tone in her voice that suggested she already knew the answer.
"Not until I find out what happened up there yesterday, Jane," he answered in a steely tone of voice, eyes never leaving Jennifer's face. "Now Lieutenant, I asked you a question, did you see what happened up there?"
Jennifer thought for a moment before responding, then opened her mouth and hoped for the best.
"Sir, your daughter defended her honor in a manner that any United States Air Force soldier would be proud to emulate," she said in a rush, the words practically falling out of her mouth.
Hilary looked at her, mouth slightly open in wonder and amazement at Jennifer's quick thinking and interesting twist on the events of the previous day. Daniel looked down, desperately trying to stifle a roar of laughter at the mental image of a platoon of airmen mooning their CO. He was strangely proud of the way she was trying to cover up for the girl, the same way that she had tried to cover up for him in Sam's lab.
"Exactly what do you mean by that, Lieutenant?" The colonel continued in his interrogatory tone.
"Gerald," his wife stated in her own warning tone.
Jennifer set her jaw. Daniel noticed the look in her eyes and involuntarily held his breath. With a steely look in her eye, she responded "Exactly what I said, sir."
Ordinarily Colonel Taylor would have appreciated this stubborn streak in the young officer; her determination to protect Hilary from his own wrath was admirable. But this morning, emotion overrode reason in the matter.
"Lieutenant Hailey, I am giving you a direct order. Now tell me what the hell happened up there or I'll have you court-martialed for insubordination."
Jennifer's eyes narrowed, her lips sealed tight. She would not be intimidated, not even by her CO; she'd sooner face a court martial. Daniel recognized that look. He sighed, putting his head down; he knew she wouldn't back down.
Watching the standoff, Hilary decided it was time to rescue her new friend. She stood up straight.
"I mooned him, Dad," she stated emphatically.
"Oh, Hilary," her mother said, leaning against the car and putting her head down.
On hearing the words, Colonel Taylor closed his eyes and dropped his head; he knew when he'd been beat and this was one of those times.
"I dropped my denims in front of God and everybody and told him to take a good look because it was the last chance he'd get to see it," she stated defiantly, arms crossed in a battle ready stance.
Colonel Taylor rubbed his brow with his thumb and forefinger. "Jane?" he said in a quiet, defeated tone, without looking up.
"Yes, Gerald?" she replied quietly.
"Would you please take the lieutenant in and get her the information she's going to need to get her bike replaced? And make sure she's not in need of medical attention?" He looked up then. "Dr. Jackson?" he addressed the archaeologist.
Daniel looked up, taken aback. "Uh, yes, Colonel Taylor?" he said.
"I assume that you can see to it that Lieutenant Hailey gets into town and gets this matter taken care of," he asked defeatedly, then continued as he noticed Jennifer about to protest "because you have a car right here with a bike rack that can hold it," he finished, looking at Jennifer and silencing her defense. "Reason before emotion, Lieutenant Hailey," he said in a lecturely tone. "Remember that. Dismissed, lieutenant."
"Sir, thank you, sir," Jennifer replied respectfully.
"Come with me, lieutenant," the woman said in a pleasant tone of voice.
"Yes ma'am," she said, walking past the Colonel, and glancing quickly at Hilary she flashed a "good for you" grin at the younger girl. Hilary fell in step with her as they followed the older woman into the house. She took Jennifer's arm in a friendly gesture and whispered "You're right, he is all that," sneaking a peek over her shoulder at Daniel, who was suddenly uncomfortable at the idea that he was being discussed. Jennifer giggled.
Just then the phone rang from inside the house and Hilary broke into a dead run. "I'll get it," she yelled, "It's probably for me," she stated as she raced through the garage and into the house.
In the house, Mrs. Taylor went about the business of getting the information that Jennifer would need. She picked up a pen and a piece of paper, and using her cell phone, she dialed a number. "Hi John, this is Mrs. Taylor. I've got a situation I need your help with. It's another bike. Yes, that's right, this time on the passenger side. Yes, if he can just get one on the front he will have basically rebuilt the whole thing," she laughed gently. She glanced at Jennifer. "I'm sending her down this afternoon with what's left of her bike; I know you'll need that for the insurance. Yes, they'll be right along, and if you could just handle everything with the insurance company like you've done for us before the Colonel and I would be eternally grateful. Yes, that's it. Thank you, John," she said in her flowing, genteel voice, ending the conversation.
She turned her attention to Jennifer. "Are you sure you're alright, Lieutenant? Have you been seen by a doctor?" she asked in a motherly tone.
Jennifer smiled reassuringly. "I had Hilary drop me off at the infirmary; the Chief Medical Officer gave me a clean slate."
Jane Taylor eyed Jennifer over the top of her glasses. "That was a very nice thing you did for her, Lieutenant," she said in a tone mixed with authority and approval.
"It was the right thing to do, ma'am," Jennifer replied in a matter of fact tone of voice.
"It was above and beyond the call of duty, Lieutenant," the woman stated knowingly. "Don't sell yourself short, Jennifer. It was an honorable thing to do, and I know that Gerald noticed it, too," she said as she handed her the piece of paper with the bike shop information. Then she leaned slightly towards the younger woman and added stealthily "no matter how much smoke he blows up your ass," she finished.
"Dr. Jackson, you'll need to take the remains of the bike down there with you, can we load it onto your car?"
"Oh, of course," Daniel said, relieved to have something to do.
As they finished securing it, Colonel Taylor looked at him. "Dr. Jackson, can I ask you something man to man?"
Daniel pushed his glasses up on his nose, not at all sure what the question might be. "Sure," he answered, trying to sound casual.
"Was that dress as bad as I thought it was?"
Daniel thought for a moment. "Hooah, Colonel" he replied in the tone of voice shared among men on these subjects.
Just then Jennifer, Hilary and Mrs. Taylor reappeared, laughing and chatting amongst themselves. Jennifer stole a glance at Daniel and smiled. Colonel Taylor watched the exchange between the two of them. "Tell me, Dr. Jackson," he said in a mock fatherly tone, "are your intentions for my lieutenant honorable?"
Daniel was watching Jennifer. "Most of the time," he responded distractedly. Colonel Taylor looked at him sharply, but Daniel didn't notice. Truer words were never spoken, the colonel thought to himself.